Gary Duane Duren Sr.

Gary Duane Duren Sr. was born on July 10, 1943. A good but complex man, he grew up as the middle child in a family of 18 brothers and sisters. Life was not easy for Gary; he was on his own by the age of 13, surviving on the streets of San Francisco, California. At 20, he moved to Minnesota to be near his sister Shirley and her husband Dee. There, he took a job at the carnival in Hutchinson, where he met Elaine and her sister Barb. This meeting marked the true beginning of his life.

Gary and Elaine were married on October 30, 1964. Together they raised four children: Darla, Sheila, Gary Jr., and Kevin. Gary worked for more than 20 years as a highway maintenance senior for the Minnesota Department of Transportation in Saint Paul Park. He cherished this role until his retirement in the mid-1980s. Known for his charm, wit, and ability to deliver a good joke, even in his final days, Gary possessed a remarkable will to survive, a strong drive to get things done, and a reliability that those around him could always count on. Above all, he loved Jesus and his family deeply.

Gary is survived by his wife, Elaine MaRay Duren (Bartell) of Adams, Wisconsin; his children Darla Duren of Otsego, Minnesota, Sheila Lee of St. Francis, Minnesota, Gary Duren Jr. (Lena) of Wyocena, Wisconsin, and Kevin Duren (Christina) of Friendship, Wisconsin; 12 grandchildren, Brandon, Kayla, Andrew, Dustin, Derek, DaNele, Alex, Allyson, Alayna, Adam, Abel, and Marcus; step-grandchildren Elizabeth, Cameron, Erich, and Hannah; 16 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Alma Duren; sisters Arlene, Deanna, Carol, and Shirley; and brothers Lyle, Gerald, Albert Jr., and Glenn.